zakat
Noun: 1. A mandatory charitable contribution in Islam: Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, requiring eligible Muslims to donate a fixed portion (typically 2.5%) of their accumulated wealth each year. It is considered a religious obligation and an act of worship (ibadah), not merely a tax or donation. 2. The specific wealth designated for charity: The term also refers to the wealth or goods themselves that are due to be given as this obligatory alms.
Zakat is a specific, calculated form of almsgiving with strict rules regarding who must pay it, what types of wealth are subject to it, and who is eligible to receive it. It purifies the giver's wealth and soul.
- As a religious obligation:
- Paying zakat is a fundamental duty for every Muslim who meets the necessary criteria of wealth.
- The calculation of zakat is based on one's savings and assets held for a full lunar year.
- Referring to the contribution itself:
- He distributed his zakat to several needy families in the community.
- The zakat collected by the mosque was used to provide food and clothing.
- "Zakat al-Fitr" (or Fitrana): A special, obligatory charity paid by Muslims at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. It is distinct from the annual zakat on wealth.
- Every member of the household, even children, must have Zakat al-Fitr paid on their behalf.
- Zakatable (adj): Describing assets or wealth on which zakat is due.
- Gold, silver, and cash savings are common zakatable assets.
- Sadaqah (n): A broader, general term for voluntary charity in Islam, which is highly recommended but not obligatory like zakat.
- Almsgiving (n): The act of giving money or food to the poor (this is the general English equivalent, but lacks the specific Islamic legal and ritual connotations of ).
- Tithe (n): A tenth part of something paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to the government. (Note: This is a Christian/Judaic concept and is not synonymous in a religious context, though it is a similar concept of obligatory giving).
The primary and most common meaning of zakat is the obligatory alms, which is the fourth pillar of Islam. Its purpose is spiritual purification and the redistribution of wealth within the Muslim community (Ummah), specifically earmarked for categories such as the poor, the needy, and those in debt, as defined in the Quran.
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the fourth pillar of Islam is almsgiving as an act of worship
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the zakat is earmarked for the poor and disabled
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